Spacing device for display-trays.



W. T. HORMES. SPACING DEVICE FOR DISPLAY TRAYS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. I915.

Pate11tedAug.27, 1918.

' r J2 i 1:21 1a- V 1 WED was; PATENT orricu i WILLIAM '1. I-IORIVIES, 0F GOVANS, MARYLAND, assreuoia TO soLoMoN HIMMEL, or f BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. w

sracrive nsvrcnroa nIsPIiaY-TRAYs.

To all in hom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, WVILLIAM T. HoRMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Govans, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spacing Devices for Display-Trays, of specification.

This invention is an improved device for use in connection with display trays, or other similar receptacles, wherein it is desirable or necessary to retain the articles on display, in spaced relation, to prevent rubbing, and to enhance the display thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved spacing device which may be readily attached to, or detached from a suitable supporting element carried by a display receptacle, and the positions of which may be readily shifted to accommodate articles of different character, or articles of the same character but differing in size. A further object is to provide an improved spacing device, having friction means for normally preventing displacement thereof. A further object is to provide simple means whereby the spacing device may be readily and quickly placed in position.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

= In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portionof the bottom of a the use of spacing display tray, illustrating devices. Fig. 2'is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the spacing device detached. Fig. 3 1s a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the guidestrip and spacing device in engagement therewith;

Fig. i is a transverse sectional view of the guide strip with thespacing device in elevation.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a portion of the base of a display tray,

. securing devices 12 passed through the ends of the strip. It will be noted that the body of the strip is spaced from the base of the tray, as indicated at 13, Fig. 3, said strip being preferably made of resilient sheet metal. One end of the strip is reduced in width as indicated at 14..

The spacing device is preferablyformed of sheet metal, and comprises an upstanding body portion 15, having its lower end bent which the following is a and 11 a guide strip attached thereto, by means of" tray,

Specification of Letterslatent. Patented iAllg'. 27, 1918- Application filed December 22,1915. Seria1No.68,193.

at right angles to form a foot 16'. The metal from which the foot is formed,'is soinewhatwider than the body 15, the lateral edges'of said metal beingbent over to form oppositely disposed lateral flan'ges'l'i', the" edges of which are extended inwardly, and spaced from the body of the foot, to receive the strip I 11. It' willbe notedthat the space between the foot 16 and the flanges 17' is somewhat greater than the thickness of the strip 11, to permit of 'a' slightvertical play of'the foot and flanges relative to said strip.

When it is desired to employ the spacing device, the foot is passed down over the narrow portion let of the strip 11, until said strip engages the under surface of the foot, and-the spacer is then moved longitudinally of the strip, until the wider portion'of" the latter fills the space between the flanges. 1 By making the space between the foot and the flanges slightly greater than the thickness of the strip, the spacing device is per mitted to have a slight rocking movement upon the strip. As a result any pressure appliedto the spacer except at the bottom, will cause the foot and flanges to be moved out of alinement with the strip, thereby producing a binding action which will prevent any sliding movement of the spacer. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that when articles of varying widths are to be stored in drawers containing the spacer de -vice, the placing of one or several of the easily sliding them along the guide strip a proper distance to receive the articles in question. Having been thus automatically and easily spaced, should the upper portions of the spacers be accidentally subjected to pressure during the placing of the remaining articles in the tray, or drawer, the above described binding action will result in preventing any further sliding movement of the spacer or spacers. Articles held between the spacerstend to exert a pressure sufficient to f secure this binding action, and displacement of the spacer by reason of the shaking of the I or of the placing of articles in, or removing them from the tray,is prevented. The metal forming the spacer is sufliciently resilient 'to'pernnt the body portion 15 to be moved considerably out of its normal angu lar relation with the foot, and yet return to pressure thereon By reason of tlns resiliency, as tending to destroy the normal said normal relation when is released.

the pressure angular correspondingly increased.

Havlng thus explained the nature of my inventionand described an operative maning its body portion spaced therefrom, of a a plurality of spacing members slidably mounted onsaid guide strip, each spacing.

relation is increased, the binding action between the foot a-ndthestrip will be member comprising a strip of sheet metal bent at right angles to provide a body portion of approximately the same width as the guidestrip; and to provide a foot portion having laterally extended sheet metal portions provided with inturned extremities 00- operating with the body portion of the foot to form a strip-engaging guide of sufficient diameter to permit slight vertical play, said spacing members being positioned along the guide strip to separate merchandise placed on both sides of the body portions thereof.

'- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing WliZ-- nesses.

lVILLIAM T. HORMES. lVitnesses:

, MARGARET REINHARDT,

MARGARET MEADE.

Copies o1' th1 s patent'may be obtained for five cents eaohrby addressing the Commissioner of Patantis, a Washington, D; c. V 

